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Gas Reservoir Engineering

Gas Flow Assurance Snapshot
 What is Gas Hydrates?
• Gas hydrate is a two side weapon, a good source
of future natural energy or a very corrosive source
that can destroy all production pipes in just short
time.
• Gas hydrates are solid crystalline compounds,
resembling ice or wet snow in appearance, but
much less dense than ice.
Why we Study Gas Hydrates?
• The amount of energy stored in gas hydrates is vast
production from gas hydrate reservoirs will still have a
great impact as an energy source
• It is dependent upon cage filling and hydrate
structure. This number assumes 100% cage filling in
structure I methane hydrate
• Methane hydrate is an attractive energy source due to
its high energy density: one cubic meter of
combustible ice contains about 164 cubic meters of
regular natural gas.
• This high energy density is due to the fact that
methane is trapped within the hydrate crystal
structure and greatly compressed.
 Typical P-T Diagram
• The precipitation line for 3 common
solids in oil and gas industry is shown
in a pressure temperature diagram.
• The solubility line of wax is hardly a
function of pressure, so wax
deposition is considered to be only
temperature dependent.
• Wax precipitate typically at lower
temperatures than asphaltenes and
are mainly a problem in pipelines
rather than ow lines.
 Hydrate Formation Conditions
1. Free water
2. Natural gas (N2, H2, CO2, C1, C2,
C3, iC4)
3. Low temperature
4. Increased pressure
5. Gas at or below its water dew-
point
6. High velocity, Agitation
(Turbulence Flow)
7. Pressure pulsation
8. Introduction of a small hydrate
crystal
 Gas Hydrates Exploration Techniques

Seismic Reflection:

• The velocity of sound in pure hydrate is believed to be similar to that of

ice.
• Most Hydrate Formations were determined by indirect evidence such as
seismic reflections called bottom simulating reflectors (BSR).
• These seismic signals are caused by velocity inversions because of gas
beneath some higher-velocity barrier, such as a hydrate deposit.
Gas Hydrates Exploration Techniques
Gas Hydrates Exploration Techniques
Gas Hydrates Exploration Techniques
Gas Hydrates Exploration Techniques
 Hydrates in Pipelines
• Hydrates form where there is a sharp reduction in pressure such as:
• Orifices
• Partially open control valves
• Sudden enlargement on pipelines
• Short radius elbows

• The reduction in pressure causes the temperature to drop and free water to condense.

• Due to the low temperature and high pressure environment of the seabed, most of the
deep-water gas wells will encounter gas hydrate problems if no hydrate prevention is
implemented.
 Hydrate Problems Prevention

Hydrate formations that cause

problems in production system can
be controlled by many parameters;
1. Increasing System Temperature
2. Decreasing System Pressure
3. Injecting thermodynamic inhibitors
4. Dehydration Process
 Pressure & Thermodynamic Inhibitors
Decreasing System Pressure
Hydrate formation can be prevented or controlled by
lowering the system pressure as to be far from the hydrate
formation zone shown in the figure. The lowering process
can be generated by Hydrate plug removal as an example.
Injecting Thermodynamic Inhibitors
These thermodynamic inhibitors can slow down
the hydrate formation as it can effect on the
hydrate formation curve.
 Dehydration Process
Gas Dehydration
• Gas Dehydration is the process of
removing water vapor from a gas
stream to lower temperature at which
water will condense from the stream.
Methods of dehydration
1. Absorption: Glycol Dehydration
2. Adsorption: Activated Alumina,
Molecular Sieve and Silica Gel.
3. Condensation: refrigeration with
glycol or methanol injection.
Why Should We Dehydrate Gas?
• To Avoid:
• Solid hydrate formation under certain conditions.
• Corrosion, especially in the presence of CO2 or H2S
• Slugging (two phase flow) and erosion.
Common liquid desiccants used in the oil and gas
industry to dehydrate natural gas are:
1. Methanol,
2. Ethylene glycol,
3. Di-ethylene glycol,
4. Tri-ethylene glycol.